Summary Shortly after daybreak on 29June1999, while away from the mother ship Marabelland operating in heavy swells off the southwest side of Langara Island, British Columbia, the open sports fishing boat Marabell8capsized, throwing the two occupants into the water. The operator drowned. The other person, who managed to board the capsized hull, was successfully rescued some two hours after the accident. Ce rapport est galement disponible en franais. Other Factual Information Description of the Vessels Marabell8is a 5.2m open sports fishing boat, constructed of non-absorbent buoyant polyurethane foam sandwiched between external and internal layers of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). The trihedral hull has a centre V and port and starboard hard chine units which enhance transverse stability. The hull is arranged with a forward, built-in locker, where distress flares are stowed, and two pedestal-mounted GRP swivel chairs - one to port and the other to starboard. A third swivel chair is fitted to starboard near the stern. From this position, the operator controls the boat's course and speed with the tiller arm of a 70-horsepower outboard motor secured to the transom stern. A very high frequency (VHF) radio transceiver is fitted beneath the frame of the operator's chair. A United States Coast Guard small craft decal was secured to the hull of the Marabell8. The Marabell is a converted hydrographic survey vessel of wood construction. The boat deck consists of an extensive foredeck leading to a raised wheelhouse followed by accommodations and lounges. The after portion of the boat deck consists of a small exterior area surrounded by stanchions and handrails. The weather deck consists of accommodation spaces, an after saloon, a galley, and a stowage area. Photo1. Marabell8in Henslung Cove, Langara Island, British Columbia, on 30 June 1999 The Marabellis anchored each year in Henslung Cove, Langara Island, British Columbia, between mid-May and the end of July. It provides accommodation for paying guests who participate in sport fishing for salmon, halibut, and cod. At the time of the accident, a floating dock was secured to the port side of the vessel and was used as a moorage site for 13small fishing boats, one of which was the Marabell8. History of the Voyage At approximately 1300 on June28, two friends living in Colorado, U.S.A., arrived by seaplane at the Marabellfor a sports fishing vacation. After settling in their cabins, they, with 10other guests, participated in a 30-minute orientation meeting which provided information on the operational and safety features of the small boats. By approximately 0500 on the following day, June29, they ate breakfast in the main lounge, after which each donned a company-supplied, weather-protective garment known as a full-length coverall personal flotation device (PFD) suit. They then made their way to the moorage dock. One of the guests asked an employee if it was advisable to make passage to fish in the area of Lacy Island and was told that it was. At approximately 0515, the two guests boarded the Marabell8and departed for Lacy Island via McPherson Point and St.MargaretPoint. They chose this route because they determined, from their own observations, that it provided more protection from rough seas than the more direct route via Parry Passage. From the time the boat left the dock until the accident, some 75minutes later, the same person operated the outboard motor while the other remained seated in the chair on the port side midships. At approximately 0545, they arrived in the vicinity of Lacy Island and cast their fishing lines in the water. Before long, they found that the rain, southerly winds and large waves combined to make fishing very uncomfortable. At approximately 0605, they reeled in their lines and began a passage back to Marabell by following a course through the exposed waters of Parry Passage. At approximately 0630, in the vicinity of Swanton Bank, the boat was making a speed of approximately 12to 15knots when a large wave struck its starboard side. The boat capsized, throwing both of the occupants into the sea. The occupant, who had been seated amidships, surfaced. Although the seas were rough, he was able to swim a short distance to, and climb atop, the now-overturned hull of the Marabell8. From his position, he saw the boat's operator some distance away, floating face-down in the water. Some two hours later, his arm-waving attracted the attention of two occupants of a small fishing boat (the rescue boat) passing by; the rescue boat did not originate from the Marabell. The rescue boat made a cursory check on the person in the water and then transported the lone survivor to the Marabell,where he was successfully treated for mild hypothermia. Figure1. Langara Island, British Columbia, showing the route of Marabell8 on 29 June 1999 An inflatable boat, with three persons aboard, was then dispatched from the CharlottePrincess,which was anchored near the Marabell. Those aboard the inflatable recovered the operator from the water and took him to the Marabell, where he was pronounced dead by the Provincial Coroner from Masset, British Columbia. An autopsy later revealed that the cause of death was drowning. Damage to the Vessel Damage to the Marabell8 was minor and included the following: The VHF transceiver sustained seawater damage. The swivel chair, located amidships on the starboard side, and two plastic portable fuel tanks were missing. The left side of a horizontally mounted aluminum bracket attached to the outboard motor was bent upward. (The bracket was part of a mechanism used to maintain a steady course while trolling for salmon.) Certification - Vessels Marabell8 The Marabellwas engaged in a commercial activity where the guests purchased a package deal comprised of room and board on board the Marabelland the use of Marabell8 for sport fishing/recreational activity. Transport Canada (TC) considered the Marabell8 to be a pleasure craft and was, therefore, subject to the requirements of the Small Vessel Regulations as applicable to pleasure craft. The Marabell8was not inspected by TC, nor was there a regulatory requirement to do so. Marabell The Marabellwas certificated in accordance with the Canada Shipping Act for the trade in which the vessel was engaged and the area of operation. Personnel History Previous Sports Fishing Trips Both the operator and the survivor had been guests of the same sports fishing company on two previous occasions: in June1994, when they stayed aboard the Marabell in Henslung Cove for five days, and in June1997, when they stayed aboard another of the company's vessels anchored at the head of Rennell Sound on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands for five days. The operator of the Marabell8did not have proof of competency in operating a boat, nor was he required to by regulations. The operator was not considered to have been an experienced boat handler. No guide was available, nor was one provided. Certification of the Master of the Marabell The master of the Marabellholds a valid 350-ton Home Trade Certificate. At the time of the accident, he had been in command of the vessel during five consecutive sports fishing seasons, beginning in1994. Safety Equipment The Marabell8carried life-saving equipment in excess of that required by regulations. Two approved lifejackets were stowed in the forward storage locker, together with six pyrotechnic distress flares and a waterproof flashlight.2 In addition, each of the two persons on board wore a full-length coverall PFD, provided by the operator of the sports fishing facility. Safety Measures Taken by the Master of the Marabell The master of the Marabell routinely informed newly arrived guests of the safety equipment aboard the small fishing boats and advised them of local navigational hazards, such as prominent areas of kelp. In addition, each evening he ensured that the next day's Environment Canada marine weather forecast for Langara Island was posted near the top of the gangway on the port side of the exterior deck, near the entrance to the main lounge. Geographical Information Langara Island is located at the southern demarcation point between the open waters of the North Pacific Ocean and Dixon Entrance. It lies approximately 30miles south of Cape Luzon, Alaska, and less than half-a-mile north of Graham Island, British Columbia., across Parry Passage. Swanton Bank is an area of relatively shallow water on the north side of Parry Passage. A description of Swanton Bank is found in paragraph170 of the Sailing Directions- British Columbia Coast (North Portion) Volume2, 12th edition, which states: with a heavy SW sea and swell it breaks heavily and the rollers almost reach Hazardous Cove.3 An inscription on the Canadian Hydrographic Service chart3868 reads: breaks with S.W. swell. Weather Forecast and On-scene Weather At 0400 on June 29, the Weather Centre of Environment Canada forecast for Langara Island was for southerly winds of between 15and 25knots and seas of between three and four metres. The sun rose at 0521. About an hour later, at the time of the accident, wind and sea conditions were consistent with those forecast, and with rain and fog patches. Current Information The Canadian Hydrographic Service Tide and Current Tables, Volume6, indicate that, on the morning of June29, high water at Solide Passage, approximately three miles from Swanton Bank, was predicted to be 4.54m above chart datum at 0152. Low water was predicted to be 0.79m at 0845. At the approximate time of the occurrence, 0625, the tide was ebbing and the current was estimated to have been setting in a southwesterly direction at a rate of one to one-and-a-half knots.